. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . atra (Linnaeus). Coloured Figures.—Gould, Birds of Great Britain, vol. iv, ; Dresser, Birds of Europe, vol. vii, pi. 504; Lilford, Coloured Figures, vol. iv, pi. 63. The Coot, another familiar and common species insuitable localities in the British Isles, is even more stronglyaquatic in its habits than the AVater-hen. Unlike the 186 RALLID^ latter we do not find it lurking about damp ditches, moistpasture-lands, or hiding in a covert of brambles, for,even when suspicious of danger, it seldom quits the prefers to take refuge among
. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . atra (Linnaeus). Coloured Figures.—Gould, Birds of Great Britain, vol. iv, ; Dresser, Birds of Europe, vol. vii, pi. 504; Lilford, Coloured Figures, vol. iv, pi. 63. The Coot, another familiar and common species insuitable localities in the British Isles, is even more stronglyaquatic in its habits than the AVater-hen. Unlike the 186 RALLID^ latter we do not find it lurking about damp ditches, moistpasture-lands, or hiding in a covert of brambles, for,even when suspicious of danger, it seldom quits the prefers to take refuge among the tall sedges andother aquatic plants. Even when undisturbed it doesnot venture as a rule far from the waters edge, albeitit is active on foot and its gait, though slower than thatof the Water-hen, is easy and graceful. Thus on landits movements are markedly different from those of theDucks and other web-footed birds with which it oftenassociates; but observed on the water at a short distanceit might be mistaken for a dark-coloured Duck; for. Fig. 25.—coot. unlike the Rails and Water-hen it is not narrow andgaunt-looking, but as it swims, which it does with no lessease and buoyancy than a Duck, its body appears fulland rounded. The Coot is also a capable diver. Largeponds, lakes, and deep slow-flowing rivers, thickly fringedwith reeds and bulrushes, are its favourite resorts ; butin hard weather this species betakes itself to salt-waterestuaries, where in company with sea-fowl, it may beseen congregated in hundreds. Flocks may also beobserved on large sheets of inland water, such as theNorfolk Broads, and Slapton Ley in Devon, where battue-shooting is still practised and large numbers killed. At theirbreeding-places, , on many of the large lakes of Ireland,Coots are also gregarious. COOT 187 This bird is jjractically a resident in the British Isles,migrating in considerable numbers to marine localities inwinter. In the Shetlands it appears to be chiefly a smiimer-vis
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